Community Services Unlimited : Serving The People Body and Soul

Garden Gateway: Preparing for Spring
2024-03-09 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | CSU/Expo Mini Farm, 3990 Bill Robertson Ln, Los Angeles, CA, 90044, United States
Join us Saturday March 9th for a free gardening and healthy cooking workshop!
RSVP Here
Date: Saturday, March 9, 2024
Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 Noon
Location: CSU/EXPO Urban Mini Farm
3990 Bill Robertson Ln. Los Angeles, CA 90037(Next to Senior Center)
Gardening Topic – Preparing for Spring: We will focus on preparing your garden for spring. What to plant now for the spring and when to start planting for summer. We’ll go over how to start plants from seed, transplanting seedlings, caring for young plants and companion planting. Come ready for hands-on activities.
Cooking Topic – All Things Fennel: From the bulb, to the fronds and the seeds – fennel offers a unique flavor to your spring dishes and many nutritional benefits. We will demonstrate how to use all parts of the plant in a variety of dishes and drinks.
GGW participants must RSVP using this form to receive free materials. RSVP’ing helps us plan for the workshop. Please RSVP individually for each adult that will be attending with you.

RSVP Here

Garden Gateway: Earth Day
2024-04-13 09:00 - 12:00 | CSU/Expo Mini Farm, 3990 Bill Robertson Ln, Los Angeles, CA, 90044, United States
Details to be announced a couple of weeks before event date

Garden Gateway: CA Native Plants
2024-05-11 09:00 - 12:00 | CSU/Expo Mini Farm, 3990 Bill Robertson Ln, Los Angeles, CA, 90044, United States

Garden Gateway: Beating the Heat/Water Conservation
2024-06-08 09:00 - 12:00 | CSU/Expo Mini Farm, 3990 Bill Robertson Ln, Los Angeles, CA, 90044, United States

Garden Gateway: Pruning
2024-11-09 09:00 - 12:00 | CSU/Expo Mini Farm, 3990 Bill Robertson Ln, Los Angeles, CA, 90044, United States
We’re back with another exciting Garden Gateway workshop! This month, we’re focusing on fruit tree pruning and seasonal cooking with pumpkin and sage. Join us to learn essential pruning techniques that promote healthy growth and maximize fruit production. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced gardener, you’ll gain practical insights to enhance the vitality of your trees.
Afterward, enjoy a hands-on cooking session where we’ll prepare a warming pumpkin sage soup! This session invites everyone—whether you’re new to cooking or a seasoned chef—to explore the rich, autumnal flavors of fresh pumpkin paired with aromatic sage. Perfect for bringing seasonal warmth to your home-cooked meals!
Saturday, November 9, 2024
9:00 am – 12:00 Noon
CSU/EXPO Mini Urban Farm
FREE Gardening & Healthy Cooking Workshop RSVP HERE!
Don’t miss out on this fun-filled workshop! And as always, try your luck in our raffle for a chance to win one of 2 rain barrel containers, exclusively available for a few lucky LADWP customers.
Also, get a sneak peek at our impressive pumpkins! Can you guess the weight?
Stay tuned for gardening tips shared through our Instagram account @CSUINC!
Virtual Gardening and Nutrition/Cooking Workshops are posted on our YouTube channel, covering a wide range of topics.
Interested in volunteering? Join us at the CSU/EXPO Urban Mini Farm on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 am to Noon. Learn more and RSVP here.
Don’t forget to shop at The Village Market Place for organic, fresh, local produce with discounts and home delivery. EBT shoppers receive 75% off produce! Shop The VMP.
Interested in selling what you grow? The South Central Growers and Harvesters Network buys produce directly from South Central residents. This network connects urban growers and harvesters to bring fresh, local food to our community. Register Here.
PLEASE COMPLETE OUR SURVEY: Your feedback helps us continue to improve our programming and support funding for these workshops. If you’ve participated in GGW, we encourage you to fill out the survey. Survey Link
Thank you for being part of our community of urban growers. We look forward to growing with you this season!
Warm regards,
The GROW Team

Volunteer Day @ the CSU/EXPO Mini Farm
2025-12-06 09:00 - 12:00 | CSU/Expo Mini Farm, 3990 Bill Robertson Ln, Los Angeles, CA, 90044, United States
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with CSU.
Please read our guidelines carefully here: https://csuinc.org/about-us/volunteer-with-us/

Individual Volunteers:
Individuals are welcome to volunteer with an RSVP. We cannot respond to all emails or voicemail messages about volunteering; check our Events Calendar to ensure there isn’t a cancellation. RSVP by emailing volunteer@csuinc.org.

Group Volunteers:

Groups must make prior arrangements before coming to volunteer. We cannot accommodate groups without prior arrangement; if you wish to bring a group from your workplace, school, organization please send an email to volunteer@csuinc.org. We welcome groups of all sizes to come and volunteer with us as part of their community service and team building activities. Groups must make prior arrangements before coming to volunteer. If you wish to arrange a group volunteer event for your workplace, school, or organization please review THIS DOCUMENT and email volunteer@csuinc.org.
Please be aware that our response may not be immediate. We appreciate your patience. We hope to work the soil together soon.

Garden Gateway Workshop: Quick Harvest Crops & Microgreens: Growing Food in All Spaces
2025-12-13 09:00 - 12:00 | CSU/Expo Mini Farm, 3990 Bill Robertson Ln, Los Angeles, CA, 90044, United States
The Garden Gateway Workshops continue with our final gathering for 2025 on
Saturday, December 13, 2025,
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: CSU/Expo Mini Urban Farm
3990 Bill Robertson Lane, Los Angeles, CA.
December’s session focuses on quick-growing crops and practical winter-season food knowledge to support continued gardening through colder months and limited spaces. This workshop closes out the year by strengthening essential skills that promote resilience, seasonal eating, and community connection.
Gardening Focus – Quick Harvest Crops & Microgreens: Growing Food in All Spaces
This month’s gardening lesson highlights fast-growing crops that thrive in cool weather, including radishes, mustard greens, and mizuna. Participants will learn how to maximize small spaces through dense planting, succession sowing, and container-based growing. The session also introduces microgreens—nutrient-dense, easy-to-grow crops that can be harvested within days and grown indoors year-round. Instruction will cover soil preparation, watering practices, harvest timing, and choosing varieties that succeed in winter conditions. Registered participants will receive seeds, starter plants, soil, and mulch to apply these techniques at home immediately.
Nutrition Focus – Radish Top Soup: Using the Whole Plant for Seasonal Nourishment
The December cooking demonstration features Radish Top Soup, a dish that highlights the value of using the entire plant—roots and greens—to reduce waste and increase nutritional impact. Participants will learn how to transform radish tops into a flavorful, warming soup suitable for winter weather. The session will cover preparation methods, flavor balancing, and variations that incorporate seasonal produce and herbs. The workshop emphasizes whole-plant cooking as a pathway to food security, cost savings, and deeper understanding of seasonal eating.
Workshop Details

Date & Time: Saturday, December 13, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Location: CSU/Expo Mini Urban Farm, 3990 Bill Robertson Ln, Los Angeles, CA

Format: In-person only

Registration:

In order to help us better prepare for accurate numbers of attendees we are asking for a small deposit ($7) to register for the workshop HERE ON THIS LINK. Once you attend, you will receive a voucher to spend the deposit at the Village Market Place. If the deposit is prohibitive, you may request a waiver by emailing csu@csuinc.org. Please note: waiver recipients who are no-shows/no-call the day of the workshop will not be eligible to receive a waiver for future workshops.

Vouchers are redeemable at any time before the final workshop in June 2026.

They can be used separately, or together.

Vouchers cannot be replaced.

Volunteer Day @ the CSU/EXPO Mini Farm
2025-12-20 09:00 - 12:00

Volunteering @ CSU/Expo Mini Farm
2026-01-03 09:00 - 12:00

Garden Gateway: Growing in Raised Beds and Containers
2026-01-10 09:00 - 12:00 | CSU/Expo Mini Farm, 3990 Bill Robertson Ln, Los Angeles, CA, 90044, United States
January 10th, 9 AM–12 PM
at the CSU/Expo Mini Urban Farm, 3990 Bill Robertson Ln, Los Angeles, CA.
Link to register: HERE

Gardening focus: Growing in Raised Beds and Containers using wood, screws, and raised bed materials. This month’s gardening lesson centers on building and growing in raised beds and containers, with an emphasis on flexibility for different home and community settings. Participants will learn how to assemble raised beds, understand soil depth and drainage needs, and choose crops that do well in these systems. The session will cover how raised beds and containers support better soil structure, water management, and accessibility for gardeners of different ages and abilities.
Registered participants will receive wood, screws, and raised bed materials, gaining hands-on experience in constructing or reinforcing growing spaces that can be adapted to yards, patios, or small urban plots.

Cooking focus: Greens Kimchi with fresh greens and a jar to start your own ferment. The nutritional topic, Greens Kimchi, a fermented dish that uses leafy greens to create a tangy, nutrient-dense food that can be stored and eaten over time. Participants will learn the basics of fermentation, including salt ratios, packing, timing, and safe storage. The session will highlight how fermentation supports gut health, reduces food waste, and turns surplus or seasonal greens into a long-lasting pantry staple.

Registered participants will receive fresh greens and a jar to begin their own batch of Greens Kimchi during the workshop and take it home.

RSVP and Deposit Update
In order to help us better prepare for accurate numbers of attendees we are asking for a small deposit ($7) to register for the workshop. Once you attend, you will receive a voucher to spend the deposit at the Village Market Place. If the deposit is prohibitive, you may request a waiver by emailing csu@csuinc.org.

Please note: waiver recipients who are no-shows the day of the workshop will not be eligible to receive a waiver for future workshops. Vouchers are redeemable at any time before the final workshop in June 2026. They can be used separately, or together, and vouchers cannot be replaced.

Garden Gateway Workshop: Winecap Mushrooms & Native Plants
2026-02-14 09:00 - 12:00 | CSU/Expo Mini Farm, 3990 Bill Robertson Ln, Los Angeles, CA, 90044, United States
The Garden Gateway Workshops continue with our next session on
Saturday, February 14, 2026,
from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
at the CSU/Expo Mini Urban Farm,
3990 Bill Robertson Lane, Los Angeles, CA.
Gardening Focus – Growing Winecap Mushrooms and Native Plants
This session will explore how winecap mushrooms and native plants can work together to build healthy garden ecosystems. Participants will learn the basics of establishing winecap mushroom beds, including site selection, layering materials, and maintaining moisture so the mycelium can spread. The workshop will also touch on how native plants support soil life, pollinators, and long-term garden resilience. Participants will see how to work with winecap spawn, learning how to incorporate it into wood chip or bed systems that can be adapted for home and community gardens.
Nutrition Topic – Winecap Mushroom
The cooking component will focus on preparing winecap mushrooms as a seasonal food. Participants will learn how to clean, handle, and cook winecaps in simple, adaptable recipes that highlight their texture and flavor. The session will cover basic cooking methods, pairing ideas, and how to integrate mushrooms into everyday meals as a nutrient-dense, farm-connected ingredient.
Workshop Details

Date & Time: Saturday, February 14, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Location: CSU/Expo Mini Urban Farm, 3990 Bill Robertson Ln, Los Angeles, CA

Format: In-person only

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/garden-gateway-workshop-tickets-1969806819222?aff=oddtdtcreator

RSVP and Deposit Policy
In order to help us better prepare for accurate numbers of attendees we are asking for a small deposit ($7) to register for the workshop. Once you attend, you will receive a voucher to spend the deposit at the Village Market Place. If the deposit is prohibitive, you may request a waiver by emailing csu@csuinc.org. Please note: waiver recipients who are no-shows the day of the workshop will not be eligible to receive a waiver for future workshops.
Vouchers are redeemable at any time before the final workshop in June 2026.
They can be used separately, or together.
Vouchers cannot be replaced.

Garden Gateway: Get Ready to Spring Forward
2026-03-14 08:00 - 2026-12-15 12:00 | CSU/Expo Mini Farm, 3990 Bill Robertson Ln, Los Angeles, CA, 90044, United States
The Garden Gateway Workshop will take place on
Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
at the CSU/Expo Mini Urban Farm, 3990 Bill Robertson Ln, Los Angeles, CA.
Gardening Topic – Get Ready to Spring Forward
We will cover companion planting, incorporating native plants, adding flowers to support pollinators and biodiversity, and using mulch (straw, sawdust, and wood mulch for pathways) to protect soil and manage weeds.
Nutrition Topic – Aloo/Sauf (Potato/Fennel Green)
The cooking session will feature Aloo/Sauf, a dish that brings together potatoes and fennel greens, emphasizing whole-plant use, flavor, and seasonal nourishment.
RSVP and Deposit Policy
In order to help us better prepare for accurate numbers of attendees we are asking for a small deposit ($7) to register for the workshop. Once you attend, you will receive a voucher to spend the deposit at the Village Market Place. If the deposit is prohibitive, you may request a waiver by emailing csu@csuinc.org. Please note: waiver recipients who are no-shows the day of the workshop will not be eligible to receive a waiver for future workshops.
Vouchers are redeemable at any time before the final workshop in June 2026. They can be used separately, or together. Vouchers cannot be replaced.
Registration link: [Register Here]

South Central Growers and Harvesters Network
2026-03-28 | CSU/Expo Mini Farm, 3990 Bill Robertson Ln, Los Angeles, CA, 90044, United States
Get ready to connect to the network! Join us in person to see how this program and the people who participate help feed our community. Help increase access to local food by selling what you grow. It’s the perfect chance to meet other growers, make new friends, and prepare for the growing season.

RSVP LINK
